Council could force Riverside Garden Centre in Bristol to close

Plans to turn part of Bristol into a new harbourside area could force an “iconic” garden centre to close for good.

The regeneration of the Cumberland Basin road aims to create a ‘Western Harbour’.

Two out of three of the proposed schemes would mean the closure of Riverside Garden Centre.

This is because a change to the road system would mean a new route would run through the garden centre’s car park.

A Bristol City Council spokesperson said the council welcomed feedback on the proposals.

The ideas have sprung out of a need to address the ageing Cumberland Basin road system. This includes bridges and flyovers constructed in the 1960s. It needs significant investment if they are to remain in use.

Riverside established near the banks of the New Cut over 30 years ago. It’s an independent company which now operates as a social enterprise.

The directors of Riverside Garden Centre want to keep the centre open for many years to come. They said: “We’re very proud of the reputation which we have built up. We intend to continue operating for at least another 30 years.”

But, they added if either scheme goes ahead it will mean the end of Riverside in their current location.

The team there are now encouraging as many people as possible to take part in the consultation process.

The council spokesperson said: “We’re at the very early stages of developing a way forward. We welcome this type of input to help develop plans for the future of the Western Harbour area.

“We’re hosting a further six public drop in sessions for residents and businesses to share their views and talk to us about these early proposals. We encourage all who have an interest, idea or concern to attend the sessions and take part in the online survey.”